COVID 19 Updates, 3/20/2020

Hello Neighbors,

I have a lot of information to share, and am combining as much as I can here. I had hoped for it to be more concise, but there is a lot happening, and that you all should be aware of. 

I also want to say thank you to everyone who is coping with our current situation. Social Distancing, working from home, or continuing to work your essential job, can be stressful. I am heartened to see our community coming together to help each other out. Thank you all, and please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions about city services or anything else.

Absentee Voting

Delivery by Email

Send your absentee request to voting@cityofmadison.com. Be sure to include your name, address at which you are registered to vote, email address to which the ballot should be sent, and a copy or picture of your voter ID (if not already on file in the Clerk's Office). The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5:00 pm the Thursday before the election.

You will receive your ballot and absentee certification statement as attachments to an email message. You will need to print the ballot and certification statement on paper and send them back to the City Clerk's Office through the mail. Absentee ballots must be received in the Clerk's Office in time for delivery to the polls on Election Day.

Delivery by Mail

An Absentee Ballot Request PDF  form is available for your convenience, but you are not required to use a form.  You may submit an absentee request at My Vote Wisconsin  (click on Vote Absentee at the top of the website), or you may send a written request that includes:

Name

Madison address

Address to which the ballot should be mailed

Signature

Copy of voter ID, if not already on file in Clerk's Office

Send the request via email to voting@cityofmadison.com, or mail the request to:

City Clerk's Office

210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Room 103

Madison, WI 53703

Ballots will be mailed out through the Thursday before the election. Absentee ballots must be received in the Clerk's Office in time for delivery to the polls on Election Day.

Metro service

Safety and Social Distancing

After consultation with Public Health, we have determined that several steps should be taken to reduce the risk of community spread of COVID-19 and increase the ability for riders and employees to follow social distancing guidelines.  

• Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, capacity on Metro Transit buses will be limited to 15 passengers plus the driver.
• We ask that Metro Transit be used only for essential trips such as travel to employment, medical appointments, grocery stores, etc.
• Please use alternative forms of transportation if they are available to you. 
• Exit the bus through the rear doors. 
• Other than brief periods during boarding, you should maintain a distance of 6 feet from the driver and your fellow passengers.

It is particularly important for riders who are at a high risk of severe illness, including paratransit riders, to avoid public transit. High risk individuals include:

• People 60 years or older 
• People with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes
• People who have a weakened immune system 
• Women who are pregnant 

Changes in Service

After careful consideration, Metro Transit will be reducing service and following Saturday schedules all seven days of the week beginning on Monday, March 23.

In addition, we will continue to provide regular weekday (Monday – Friday) commuter service to Verona/Epic (55 & 75), Fitchburg (44, 48 & 49), Sun Prairie (23) and Middleton (72). The University of Wisconsin Campus routes are exempt and will operate regular stand weekday service Monday through Friday and standard weekend service on Saturday and Sundays.

This modified service will continue until such time the City begins to return to a more normal function.

Paratransit service will remain unchanged; however, we strongly encourage paratransit riders who are at high risk of severe illness to protect themselves and stay home if possible.  

We will also be selectively increasing the number of buses on routes with high ridership in order to meet the demand while still maintaining the maximum capacity of 15 riders per bus.

filing for unemployment

If you are temporarily or indefinitely out of work, Gov Evers has issued an emergency order that states that applicants do not need to do a work search during the declared emergency. The Department is in the process of making the necessary updates. No action is needed on your part regarding the work search. https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/

parking

Madison Parking Restrictions Temporarily Relaxed

In an effort to accommodate the community and respond to temporary changes in neighborhood and business on-street parking needs, all on-street metered and time-limit parking restrictions will be relaxed, effective 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18 through Sunday, April 5, 2020.

This means that on-street metered, 1-hour and 2-hour limit areas, including "permit only" areas, will not be enforced city-wide during this time period. On-street meters will not require payment.

All other restrictions should be followed, including:

• Posted "No Parking" areas, signs and hoods are still valid and enforceable.
• Vehicles are required to move every 48 hours, or could be considered an abandoned vehicle and subject to citation and towing.
• Disabled parking license plates or permits are still required to park in designated disabled parking stalls.
• Do not park in marked Metro Bus stops.
• Street Sweeping and Clean Streets-Clean Lakes restrictions are still in effect for posted dates and times, including on Thursday and Friday mornings downtown.
• Leave loading zones free for day-to-day business needs.
• All off-street garages and lots are operating as normal and will still require payment.

Further information about the Madison Parking Division can be found here.